TACLOBAN CITY, April 10 (PNA) — The Leyte provincial government has welcomed the inclusion of the province to the Accelerated and Sustainable Anti-Poverty Program (ASAPP) of the national government’s Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster (HDPRC).
Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla welcomes the identification of Leyte as one of the top provinces with the highest magnitude of poor, stating “that we have to accept the fact and there is no point of denial.”
On Friday, the 40 mayors in the province gathered to launch a poverty-reduction strategy organized by the HDPRC under ASAPP.
“With Leyte under ASAPP, we will be able to focus at reducing poverty in multiple dimensions through creation of sustainable employment and income opportunities for the poor,” Petilla said.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Director Nestor Ramos said that for the Leyte launching in Palo, Leyte, the DSWD led by Assistant Secretary for Operations and Programs Group–Promotive Programs Camilo Gudmalin, held a workshop.
Provincial planning office head Corazon Alvero presented to the mayors and heads of HDPRC member–agencies the provincial profile as well as opportunities and challenges for poverty reduction.
On the other hand, the DSWD and the rest of agencies will orient the local chief executives on their respective programs.
The HDPRC is composed of 26 agencies working towards improving the overall quality of life of poor families by translating the gains of good governance into direct, immediate, and substantial benefits that will empower them.
Among the social programs that will be funded under ASAPP are Universal Health Care, Conditional Cash Transfer, Sustainable Livelihood, Abot Alam, and for informal settler families.
The implementation of the program will depend on the actual needs of the province. (PNA)